NATS and Altitude Angel help drone operators get flying in Aberdeen
Reading’s Altitude Angel has teamed up with Hampshire-based air traffic control services company NATS to launch a new initiative at Aberdeen International Airport.
The two firms have established a drone flight approval service to help operators more easily access the airspace around the site.
Drone pilots wanting to fly in or through the flight restriction zone (FRZ) around the airport are now able to request access at the touch of a button.
Operators can submit flight plans online or via the Altitude Angel Drone Assist app, which are then reviewed, approved or amended by the air traffic control team in as little as a few minutes.
The service replaces a manual process that could sometimes take 14 days or more.
NATS hopes to ensure a fully integrated airspace where drones can operate safely and seamlessly alongside other aircraft.
Richard Ellis, new airspace users director at NATS Services, said: “We want to continue to support drone operators in and around Aberdeen International Airport, but they need certainty and a level of immediacy we couldn’t offer using the previous process.
“They’ll now be able to submit flight plans quickly and securely and get flying, while our controllers will continue to know exactly what is in the airspace around them at all times.”
Altitude Angel aims to make the routine operation of drones a reality, helping to integrate fully automated drones into airspace around the world.
Chris Forster, chief operating officer at Altitude Angel, added: “We’re excited to be able to help enable more drone operations within the FRZ at Aberdeen, giving the airport and their existing drone users an understanding of the airspace and who’s operating within it, so everyone can fly safely and securely.”
The new paid for service is aimed primarily at commercial drone operators who need speed and certainty to support their businesses.
A free service for hobbyist drone pilots who are willing to wait 14 days or more for their flight plan to be processed, is also available.
NATS is also planning to extend the service to other airports where it already provides air traffic control services in the coming months.